Lionbridge in €2m contract with Irish courts

The Irish Courts Service has selected an internet-portal-based service from Lionbridge Technologies for the provision of onsite interpreters in court cases.

The deal is valued at €2m and will support as many as 200 languages.

The contract was issued via public tender and positions Lionbridge as the sole provider of interpretation services to the Irish courts system.

Using Lionbridge’s portal, court officers can manage their need for interpreters online.

John Mahon, procurement manager with the Irish Courts Service, said that the new service will enable court officers to effectively manage the influx of new nationalities and languages into Ireland.

“From refugees to sickness entitlements, we need to communicate across hundreds of languages,” said Mahon. “When a foreign national applies for asylum in Ireland, it is critical we ensure they understand their legal position, understand the forms, know what they are entitled to and what they might be signing.

“The service that Lionbridge provides is far more important than merely verbal translations. It is the core enabler of our commitment to provide the highest level of service and communications with all people in our court system.”

Lionbridge’s interpretation division won its first contract in 2003 with the Department of Justice, which is the single largest purchaser of interpretation services in Ireland.